Vertical Horizon at Alive at Five at Riverfront Park, 6/2/11

ALBANY – The annual kick-off of the Alive at Five free weekly outdoor concert series at the Corning Preserve’s Riverfront Park is often heralded as the start of the Capital Region’s summer music season, but let’s hope that Thursday’s after-work party-by-the-river show wasn’t indicative of the direction that this summer’s sounds are headed in.

Vertical Horizon – a horrible name for a band regardless of what they sound like – were the headliners, and they weren’t bad. They were, however, pretty generic sounding – the kind of band that might have originally strived for some sort of alt-rock credibility but ended up collaborating with a pop-schlockmeister like Richard Marx. Oh they did that? Well, ’nuff said…

And while the band did indeed achieve success – the number one hit “Everything You Want” in 1999 and the follow-up Top 40 hit “You’re a God” the following year – Vertical Horizon has been pretty much on hiatus or in steady decline ever since then.

In fact, the band that took the stage on Thursday featured only one member – singer-songwriter-guitarist Matt Scannell – from their hitmaking days. And actually, nobody that was onstage in Albany other than Scannell has even been in the band long enough to have recorded with them.

It didn’t matter to the crowd, of course, who seemed more interested in people watching (or having people see them) and drinking beer than actually paying attention to the band. And for once, I’d pretty much agree with them. Scannell led the quartet through an 85-minute set of rock ‘n’ roll that sounded relentlessly faceless. Nearly half of the show’s repertoire was drawn from their most recent album,”Burning the Days,” which the vast majority of rock fans

were pretty much totally unaware of.

And even when the bald, black-clad Scannell and company reached back to their hit-making days for “You’re a God” as their second song of the show, Scannell turned his microphone out toward the crowd to encourage them to sing the chorus, but he was greeted with a strange and eerie silence. It was more sad than funny, but Scannell did manage get them worked up enough for some audience participation on “Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning),” the band’s 2001 single, although chances are that the crowd knew the song better because of country singer Gary Allan’s re-make than the original. And Vertical Horizon finally did achieve lift-off with their hit, “Everything You Want,” garnering a loud, crowd sing-along response and plenty of cheers.

Unfortunately it was their closing song of the night, and it didn’t earn them an encore.

Hmmm, let’s see. I will be curious if my actual posting gets on the blog here, since the person who wrote the scathing review can read and approve it or not! Don’t worry I will let everyone I know about what I think of your review in other ways…
I am smirking in regard to the fact that right above this comment box, it states that personal attacks on you will not be tolerated; what about your attack on Matt Scannell and Vertical Horizon?
First of all, immediately attacking their name? I’d like to see what kind of name you would have if you HAD a band (and please take note of the tongue in cheek overtone if YOU HAD A BAND of YOUR OWN), what you would name yours? Would it be “God’s Gift”? You’re not only insulting a multi-platinum performer, you also had to attack another -Richard Marx (who by the way is one of the most famous song writers in history with the chart records to prove it). What generation of music do you come from? Are you that much of a musical snob that you can’t decipher good lyrics? Or are are you, 12 years old? Both Richard Marx AND Matt Scannell have heart and soul in their lyrics, and anyone that has been through hardship in life can relate to the lyrics if you bother listening.
Apparently you can only write a review based on your short sighted views. Thanks for focusing on the portion of the crowd that was more interested in getting drunk at a free show over the fans that came from far away to see MATT SCANNELL and VERTICAL HORIZON. God forbid these concept-challenged people LISTEN to music that may not be considered main stream anymore because it’s about feelings, love lost, and personal experiences. I forgot it all has to be the same.

I think if you had waited long enough to ask the 95 plus people who stayed and got autographs/one on one interaction with the band, you might have actually been impressed by their personal appreciation for the fans, their down to earth spirit, and patience while people of all ages, including kids, got to meet them. How many bands do that?
Shame on you, Greg Haymes. Start a band of your own and see how easy it is…

Jennifer, you’re clearly a fan and that’s terrific. But, you should keep in mind that this is a critical review and at least Google “Greg Haymes” before you tear into him. He’s long been considered a Capital Region authority in music and yes, he too is a musician.